In a year desperately in need of a swift, kung fu kick to its head, sports fans should be thankful the AFL has managed, somewhat, to get back on track.

Despite all of 2020’s mayhem, the AFL successfully re-launched its season, and now has three rounds of footy under its belt.

While uncertainty prevails outside of the precious distraction of sport, talking about and dissecting our most popular game sure beats the reality of lockdown and an overall health crisis. 

Today, we take a look at some of the most positive features from the early part of a bizarre season.

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MATT ROWELL AND THE GOLD COAST SUNS

Perhaps it was a twisted blessing in disguise that the Demons-Essendon game was postponed, allowing the Gold Coast Suns to be thrust into the Sunday, nationally televised time-slot for their clash against the Crows.

The scheduling ‘switcheroo’ presented footy fans with the opportunity to take a good look at a completely rejuvenated club- and one hell of a young talent.  

Since the Sun’s 2011 entrance into the league they’ve been an unmitigated disaster. The’ve lost 103 more games than they’ve won, collected a couple of wooden spoons and lost essentially every good player they ever had, with the likes of Tom Lynch, Adam Saad, Charlie Dixon and a host of others bolting SE Queensland at the first available opportunity.

Yet the early rounds of 2020 have been nothing short of astonishing for this much-maligned club. They’ve won their last two in convincing fashion and sit third on the ladder, all the while showcasing their array of exceptional young talent, led by 18-year old wonder kid, Matt Rowell.

There are few joys in elite sports more profound than witnessing elite talent emerge and flourish right before your eyes, which is precisely what we’re seeing from last year’s #1 pick.

Rowell’s doing a bit of everything, and doing it damn well, while he’s also getting support from the likes of Ben King and Ben Ainsworth, fellow top-ten draft picks Noah Anderson and Jack Lukocious are also finding their feet.

Yet, what’s been most striking about the Suns this season has been their added midfield hardness led by mature, seasoned recruits Brandon Ellis and Hugh Greenwood. 

These two are giving the Suns a much more robust presence in the middle, adding a pronounced physicality which the rest of their inexperienced squad seems to be feeding off.

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THE PIES ARE THE AFL'S NEW PREMIERSHIP FAVOURITES 

For many, the notion of Collingwood doing well doesn’t exactly constitute a heartwarming tale, yet the reality is the Magpies are mighty good this year and have moved into premiership favouritism. 

On Saturday, they had a big MCG test against a much-improved Saints and blew them to pieces, winning every quarter and running out 44-point winners.

What’s most impressive about this year’s Magpies is how much more dangerous they appear forward of centre, which was one of the biggest questions coach Nathan Buckley faced heading into the season. 

While the Pies are only averaging 38 inside 50’s per game on the season (the league’s 4th worst number), they're converting brilliantly once there, scoring a major for every 3.80 entries which is the 4th best mark in the league, and a big jump on the 4.28 they managed last season. 

The Pies look much more organised and more threatening up forward boasting 10 players who have scored at least two goals, with Jaidyn Stephenson returning to the mix against the Saints adding a couple of goals of his own.

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PORT ADELAIDE IS BACK!

The league’s only 3-win undefeated team, the Power sit on top of the ladder for a third straight week- a feat they haven’t managed since 2014. 

Port entered season 2020 under so much scrutiny regarding both the status of coach Ken Hinkley along with the 'elephant of Alberton' which is their now 6-year drought of not winning a single game in September. 

Yet, they’ve looked menacing through the first few rounds, pulverising opponents by a collective 151 points, all the while boasting the league’s best points for and against figures.

In Gold Coast, Adelaide and Fremantle, Port haven’t exactly stared down a ‘murderer’s row’ of opponents, yet their form has been undeniably brilliant, boosting their Finals prospects to a whopping 85.2% according to the Stats Insider Futures algorithm. 

Ollie Wines returned to the team and collected 25 touches and a team-high 6 clearances against the Dockers, while Travis Boak looks to be in a career-best form- which is saying something for a player already twice crowned All-Australian.

The Power have turned the screws defensively as well. They’re allowing just 271.7 possessions per game (second only to Geelong) and only 31.7 inside-50s which leads the league. Opponents are operating at a league-worst 67% disposal efficiency which is further testament to Port's pressure. 

They’ll face the reeling Eagles this week at Carrara, followed by a Round 5 Gabba clash against the Lions.

By then we’ll have a clearer idea of just how good this year’s Port team really is.

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AN EXTRAORDINARY COLEMAN MEDAL RACE

Sure, we’re only 3 rounds in, but have you taken a look at this season’s list of leading goal kickers?  

It’s led by (checks notes) Harry Perryman, and is followed by Charlie Cameron, Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney, Chad Wingard and Liam Ryan- all brilliant, reliable goal scorers, but none fitting the usual description of a traditional, top-tier marksmen.

Reigning Coleman medalist Jeremy Cameron remains right in contention, as too does Ben Brown, however the likes of previous Coleman recipients Josh Kennedy and Jack Riewoldt have combined for just 5 goals, while we’ll of course be without Lance Franklin this season indicating we truly are looking at perhaps a dramatic changing of the guard.

The strangest of seasons is being reflected in the most peculiar of Coleman Medal races. Let’s hope this bizarre leaderboard continues throughout the year. 

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THE INCREDIBLE EMERGENCE OF JACOB WEITERING

While so much attention has justifiably been lavished upon last year’s #1 pick Matt Rowell, another former #1 pick in Jacob Weitering has enjoyed his own breakout season. 

Carlton’s 2015 #1 pick has been a revelation this year, locking down some of the game’s best forwards in Tom Lynch, Tom McDonald and Tom Hawkins and playing a pivotal role in the Blue’s incredible, breakthrough win at Kardinia Park on Saturday night.

Weitering easily leads the league with 23 defensive one-on-ones, winning 82.6% of such match-ups, while he, along with reigning All-Australian Full Back Harris Andrews, is the only player in the league to have accumulated at least 20 spoils and 20 intercept possessions on the season. 

This year’s All-Australian team is wide open, particularly among the defensive posts owing to Jeremey McGovern’s injury problems and the official retirement of Alex Rance- Two players who’ve earned a combined 9 AA gongs. 

Weitering’s emergence in the early part of 2020 has been sweet music to Carlton fan’s ears, while he’d be a lock right now to secure his own, first ever All-Australian selection. 

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